A/N: Sorry this update took me so long, guys! My workload has just been doubled thanks to the lovely club of mine..Sigh.Anyway, hope you enjoy this extra long chapter of mine..hahahaha..mind you, I'm not really that good at fighting scenes, so I really hope that you will bear with my mistakes..hehee then again, no one seems to be reviewing my former chapter anyway.haahaha...I guess all of us are busy these days huh?
Chapter 15: Separated Once More
"Oh come on, Trexxy! Don't tell me we're lost again!" howled Anexia.
The priest glared at her sister as he tried to comprehend the map once more. "Shut up, Anne! I'm trying to find a way out of here too, you know!" he shot back. They had left camp after dawn and so far they had been moving around in circles all day in Mount Mjholnir.
Shenzein sneaked a look at Alyssa. She seems fine, he reasoned, but one can never tell what is up with her. He remembered quite well what happened last night, even though she seems to be unaware of anything. He noticed, too, that the sibling quarreling right now are also doing their best to act normal and avoid her as much as possible at the same time. He sighed. Nothing much he could do about that. Glancing back at Alyssa, he fell back a step to match her pace.
"Alyssa," he started gently, "Alyssa, are you okay? You seem pretty quiet."
The alchemist looked up wearily. Shenzein was shocked to see the dark circles around her eyes, making her look as though she hadn't been sleeping well for a few weeks. Then almost immediately, he was swamped with guilt. Of course she hasn't been sleeping well, he chided himself, her sister has been kidnapped, her ex-fiancé suddenly appears, and there was yesterday's incident where he wasn't sure she actually knows about.
"I'm fine, Shein. Just thinking about something, that's all," she said quietly.
Shenzein stared at her. "Lyss, you know that you can talk to me about anything, right?" he said tentatively, gesturing a token of understanding towards her.
Alyssa smiled faintly. "Yes…yes, I know, Shein. Thanks for always being there for me," she said, reaching for his hand and squeezed it gratefully. Shenzein stared at the hand she was holding, feeling a warm glow suffusing him slowly. Her holding his hand felt…good. Then he shook his head and pulled his hand away. This was not the time to indulge in romanticism.
"Shein…"
Shenzein looked at Alyssa questioningly. "Yeah?" he asked.
"What is actually going on?" she asked wearily, almost as if she was talking to herself instead.
Shenzein sighed and took her hand, holding it comfortingly. "I have no idea…"
Then Anexia looked behind and gave a mischevious smirk at the two of them. "Hey you two lovebirds! Come and help my pathetic brother here before we get lost once more!" she called out, ducking the annoyed whack from her brother swiftly at the same time. She grinned at them.
Shenzein chuckled softly under his breath. "Looks like someone needs rescuing in front there," he said. He looked at the alchemist questioningly, "Coming?"
Alyssa shook her head smiled. "I want to be alone for awhile. You go and save the day then, Shein," she said, gesturing him to go and at the same time took her hand away from his. He nodded, gave her shoulder an affectionate squeeze and walked towards Astrexil.
She stared at the trio in front of her. They seem so uncaring of the future, so carefree. How I wish I could be just like them, she thought wistfully, burden-less and not worried. She automatically followed her teammates as her thoughts drifted once more to the goddess.
"Find your sister before everything's too late…" she had said. But how is she to know when is it too late?
Alyssa! Don't separate yourself from your friends! It's too dangerous and makes your vulnerable to any attacks!
The alchemist nearly jumped out of her skin. She looked around her wildly, trying to discern the location of that voice. She could have sworn that it was Goddess Athena speaking to her. Then out of the blue, the earth began to rumble.
"Alyssa, watch out!" shouted Shenzein in horror as he tried to control his balance above the shaking ground. Alyssa felt her body trembling according to the rhythm of the quake. She saw that her friends were too far away for her to run to, and that they were all just as alarmed as she was feeling right now.
Then out of the blue, the earth split somewhere in between her and her friends. Long shards of earth rose from the split center, forming a thick wall thus separating her with the rest. "No!" she screamed, running towards the newly built wall as fast as she could without falling. "Shein! Anne! Trexxy!" she shouted, banging her hands against the thick mound of earth.
Abruptly, the quake suddenly stopped. Alyssa took out her axe and clumsily tried to whack the mounds of earth away. Nothing happened. It was as if the earth was indestructible and would not crumble at all. Alyssa looked upwards, hoping to find a way to climb across it. But the wall was too high and there were no ridges at all to support her climb. She shook her head in desperation.
Prepare yourself, girl! Your enemy is approaching!
Alyssa shook her head again, but she took out her twin daggers and kept her axe. She took up a defensive stance as her eyes roamed around for any movement. She could see now that it was useless to try and break the wall. Her best chance would be to try and fight the person who had done this. Then she heard a slow chuckle somewhere in the shadows.
"Whos is it? Show yourself, man!" she demanded.
The chuckle then became shrill and menacing. "A man, am I?" said the voice tauntingly. It sounded like an overly girlish voice.
Alyssa looked around her grimly. She still couldn't pinpoint the exact location of that voice. Whoever it was, it was good at disguising itself amongst the shadows. Suddenly, she felt a warm glow erupting within her. A red fireball materialized suddenly in front of the surprised alchemist. Then she remembered the protective orb she had accidentally casted when she was in the goddess' chambers.
"Wha-"
The speaker was suddenly thrown away from the gloom. Picking herself up, she brushed away the dirt from her cloaked and eyed the fireball in slight puzzlement. Alyssa stared at the person in front of her. It was a girl. No, she amended quickly, not a girl, a woman. Dressed in the garb of a wizard, her short crop of bright blue hair stood out nicely.
"Nice one, alchemist! Now tell me, how did you do that?" the wizardress asked pleasantly with a hint of steel in her voice.
"Now what makes you think I would tell you, stranger?" she shot back, gripping her twin daggers tightly. She was still unsure of that wizardress.
The woman laughed softly. "Won't tell now, won't you?" she said mockingly, "No worries, you will talk eventually." She raised her left hand suddenly and casted a few invisible attacking orbs towards the startled alchemist. Alyssa barely had time to duck from that attack, but the fireball in front of her suddenly enlarged and created a wall of fire in front of her. The invisible attacks hissed and fizzled as soon as it touched the protective wall.
"Hmm, not bad, not bad," the wizardress said slowly, almost hungrily as she stared at the alchemist, "Now this is what I call hunting." She stretched her right hand forward, her staff being held tightly in it. As Alyssa watched in fascination and horror, thick clouds began to form around the wizardress, which soon took the shape of a few ghostly wolves. Those visages were twice bigger than a real wolf and there were about twenty of them.
The wizardress smiled maniacally as she petted one of the wolves. "Like my pets? I call them Visages. And guess what? They'll be your playmates right now. You better watch out, their favorite game is Hunt and Kill!" she said playfully as the wolves left their creator and bounded towards the alchemist in an alarming breakneck speed.
That lady is crazy, Alyssa thought as she eyed the approaching wolves nervously. The first two wolves tried to leap across the fiery boundary but were caught by it midway. Taking advantage of this, five other wolves streaked across the firewall and began to target the alchemist. They stopped just in front of her and began to circle around her menacingly, growling once in a while as a sign of intimidation.
Alyssa took a calming breath and eyed the predators steadily. It won't do her any good to break down right now. Growling, the first wolf began its attack. It leapt towards the alchemist, baring its teeth for all it was worth. Alyssa ducked the attack that was aimed deadly at her throat and managed to slash the wolf under its stomach. She crouched down and balanced herself immediately. She looked at the wolf she had attacked. To her utmost horror and amazement, the wolf did not look as though it was wounded at all. Not even a scratch was in sight on the wolf's body.
The wizardress gave a trill of maniacal laughter. "How stupid of you, alchemist! Don't you know that my Visages are not just any wolves? They're ghostly, which means you can't attack them with just any material weapons!" she said mockingly.
Oh shit, thought Alyssa. She looked at her twin daggers helplessly. Now how was she to attack them? The second wolf suddenly launched itself towards her, forcing her to roll and duck the attack, wildly slashing against the wolf. She could feel the coarse bristles of the wolf's fur against her bare hand. But why couldn't she wound it?
Suddenly she felt a slice of pain on her left shoulder. Turning around, she barely glimpsed a long vertical gash on her shoulder just before she was confronted by another brutal attack. Acting instinctively, she ducked her head back and raised her daggers in a slashing motion above her. She felt her blades plunging into the beast's chest but there wasn't a single drop of blood or an open wound in sight.
"At this rate I'm going to go to hell first before these jerks!" she muttered to herself as she picked herself up unsteadily. Already her left arm was growing numb from the loss of blood pouring out from her deep wound. She eyed her opponents calmly, her insides raging with fear.
"Give it up, Alyssa Quayshua! You can never win my visages," the wizardress trilled annoyingly. Alyssa gritted her teeth. That stupid woman was really getting on her last nerves!
Don't get provoked so easily, girl! Use your brains, for goodness sake! Ghostly beasts cannot be killed using material items, so use elemental ones! Remember what I have taught you before, use those skills now!
Alyssa nodded her head grimly as she heard the instruction. Concentrating hard on her body, she focused her body warmth directly towards her hands. Dimly, she was aware that the protective orb was playing its part again by fending off those annoying Visages. She felt the warmth quickly pooling into her palm. Automatically, she raised both hands with her palm facing outwards and zoned the heated motes towards the ghostly wolves. It worked.
Surprised by the sudden attack, the beasts were flung a few steps backwards. They quickly regained their balance and growled even more menacingly at the weary alchemist.
Again! This time, use your faith and spirit to generate motes, not your heat anymore. Using excess heat will only tire and kill you.
Alyssa complied. Rubbing her hands together, she thought about her deity and her staunch belief towards her God. Almost automatically, her mind picked up a reel of prayers and she began to chant them out loud. She could feel a pleasant yet tingly sensation running up and down her arms, almost as if a feather filled with static was being gently rubbed against her.
Bringing her hands parallel to her shoulders, she stared directly at five wolves that were side by side and dispelled her magick towards them. The silvery white motes that were formed assembled themselves into a spear-like element and zoomed straight towards the wolves. At the very last minute, the spear split into five sharp blades and pierced the wolves directly into their hearts.
"No, no! This cannot be happening!" the wizardress howled in anger. She waved her staff and more Visages began to form once more.
"Oh, no!" Alyssa groaned, "Not more!"
Keep your head on, girl! Now, listen to me. Put your hand into your pocket. You will find a semi-large egg in it. Hold the egg with both hands and summon the creature from the egg out.
"But how am I supposed to summon it out when I don't even know how to summon it in the first place?" Alyssa asked desperately. The wolves were getting too close for comfort.
Just hold it! You will know what to do. Believe in yourself Alyssa Quayshua. Prove to that annoying idiot there that you are just as powerful as she is!
Alyssa nodded fearfully and did as the goddess had asked. To her utmost surprise, there was an egg in her pocket. Now where did that come from, she wondered as she held the egg with both her hands. Nothing happened.
Gazing rather uncertainly at the egg, she wondered what to do next as she eyed the wolves uneasily. They were still steadily approaching; their furs bristling like anything. She returned her gaze to the egg nestled on her hands. Please, she begged silently, please help me creature from this egg; I'm about to be human pulp here!
Still nothing happened. "Goddess, what am I supposed to do?" she murmured desperately, her eyes darting between the wolves and the silent egg. Then suddenly she focused on the egg once more. Was it her imagination, or did the egg just moved?
She stared hard at the egg, semi-oblivious to her surroundings. She was unaware that the protective orb had just surrounded her with a foolproof barrier between her and the Visages. Nor was she aware that the wizardress was stamping her feet and cursing at her. All she knew was that the egg was about to hatch, judging from its now violent and jerky movements.
"Aah…"
There was a tiny crack just on the sharp summit of the egg. More cracks followed then after. As Alyssa shifted closer towards the egg, white lights as bright as the sun on summer's day shone through the cracks. Then, to the amazement of the alchemist, a huge paw appeared from a ridiculously small hole that was formed when the broken eggshells cracked and fell apart. Like a slow paced movie, the paw emerged, followed by another paw, and eventually, a body emerged from the egg.
Alyssa stared agape at the creature. It did not take her an ounce of doubt on what that creature was. Its body was sleek and supple, its mouth baring a full set of predator's teeth, and its fur so sleek that it would make women green with envy. It was Vagabond. But how did I capture one of those? She wondered in puzzlement as she watched the mighty wolf shook its fur and stared haughtily around.
The Visages stepped back slightly, unsure of what to do next. Even as visages, the memories of their proud leader were still swimming in their minds. These ghost-like wolves were once alive as can be; but their souls were trapped by the wizardress and were forced to bend down to her will.
Vagabond lifted its mighty head and gave a large sniff. Its eyes rove around lazily, almost as if it was simply savoring the situation. Then, it took a step forward and purposefully shielded Alyssa from the Visages. It stared calmly at the ghost-wolves, as if challenging them to attack.
"You idiots! Attack them at once!" screamed the wizardress, quite beside herself from rage. She waved her staff and produced even more visages. Vagabond merely flicked a glance at her before returning its gaze towards the ghostly visages. The visages did not move a muscle as they stared straight into the mighty wolf's piercing yellow eyes. Why, Alyssa realized, it was as if Vagabond was communicating with them!
Then the huge beast lifted its mighty head and gave a long, melancholic howl. Alyssa lifted her hands and placed them on both her ears. She shut her eyes tightly. The howl was piercing and loud. She felt as though her eardrums were about to burst into pieces. Then just as abruptly, the howl ended. Slowly, Alyssa lifted an eyelid to peek at the situation. Then she relaxed and allowed her hands to fall on her sides. An amazing sight greeted her.
The Visages were gone. But in place were several spirit-like orbs floating around Vagabond. "What happened to them?" she murmured aloud without realizing it. Vagabond turned around and bowed majestically at her, the orbs moving gracefully as it moved.
The visages you saw were actually trapped souls of the wolves that had once been Vagabond's loyal followers. That wizardress had trapped those souls in her staff somehow and could summon them when she needs a whipping boy, or rather a whipping wolf. Anyway, Vagabond broke the spell that had bound them to the wizardress. Watch and learn now, girl. This could get interesting.
Vagabond got up from its feet and slowly turned around to face the wizardress. It growled softly as it faced her. Its eyes bored gimlets into the frozen lady. The wizardress took a deep breath and faced the wolf. Alyssa noticed that her hands were shaking!
"Stay away from me, you ugly beast!" shrieked the wizardress, her hands gripping tightly on her staff. Before Alyssa could blink an eye, the lady threw a couple of ice shards towards the wolf. Vagabond dodged the attack easily, its body fluid with motion. The wizardress shrieked even more, whether in anger or with fear Alyssa was not sure. She attacked continuously towards the mighty wolf, hoping to throw it down. Ice shards rained the area like a heavy blizzard, causing Alyssa to duck for cover. Yet Vagabond did not receive even a single scratch from the attack. Alyssa was amazed to see the wolf move in such a graceful yet powerful motion. It weaved in and out between the ice shards, not even bothering to launch its own attack on the wizardress.
All the while the wizardress kept on launching brutal attacks towards Vagabond, but the mighty wolf dodged all of them easily. Finally, she wore out and could do nothing more than to roll on the ground and pant. Vagabond stopped moving. It stared at the exhausted maniacal lady. Then it went towards Alyssa. Surprised, the alchemist cast quick looks between the wizardress and Vagabond. Now what does Vagabond want me to do, she mused thoughtfully. Then something occurred in her.
Stepping towards the blue haired lady, she asked loudly, "All right, lady! Vagabond basically defeated you, and your powers are exhausted. Now tell me, who are you and what do you want from me?"
The wizardress shot her a dirty look. "Like I'm going to tell who the heck I am to a twerp like you," she muttered sourly, still trying to regain her strength.
"Oh, is that so? Well, then. Perhaps I should just let this mighty wolf devour you piece by piece. I know he's pretty mad right now at you for trapping the souls of his kin."
The wizardress gasped softly.
"Y-You wouldn't…"
"Oh, you can try me, lady. You're not the only one that can be cruel around here, you know."
The blue haired wizardress shot a quick glance at the silent wolf before returning her attention towards the alchemist. Sighing, she said sourly, "Fine, I'll tell you who I am. My name's Crystia Silverstone, Lady of Supreme Magic from the legendary city of Glast Heim."
Alyssa started. Did she just say Glast Heim? She stared at Crystia. "Glast Heim?" she asked unbelievingly. Nodding her head, Crystia looked directly at Alyssa in the eye. "Why, don't you believe it? Is it because you, like many other lump of pathetic creatures believe that the legendary city of Glast Heim? Or is it because you think that the city doesn't exist?" she asked scornfully.
Boy, the alchemist though, for a wizardress that had just been defeated, she was sure arrogant! "I know Glast Heim, and I know its fall," she said, waving her hands about impatiently, "But what I want to know is that why are you after me, and how the heck do you know who I am?"
Crystia tossed her head haughtily and responded, "I…serve…the Dark Master. So I should think you ought to know by now how I know you."
Alyssa stared at her. Dark Master again? What the heck is wrong with the fellow, trying to kill her always? "Wait a minute," she started, "You said you were the Lady of Supreme Magic, so why the heck are you working for that guy?"
"Mind your own business, impudent weakling!"
"Hey, I would mind that mouth if I were you. Don't forget who's the one that had been defeated here."
"That's what you think," smiled the wizardress wickedly.
Suddenly Alyssa felt something punched her straight at her stomach, overthrowing her a few feet back. "Oof," she grunted. Her eyes were already seeing stars as her body was slammed against the rocky wall.
Crystia smiled again and stood up. "Thanks for distracting Vagabond for me, Alyssa. While you were too busy jabbering about I had regained most of my energy. So now, your death awaits you," she said, her energy aura generating powerful winds around her. Alyssa closed her eyes. The last hit between her and that wall had somehow disoriented her coordination. She couldn't even feel her legs.
"Prepare to die, Alyssa Quayshua!"
The earth rumbled as spikes of rocks emerged from beneath. The spikes grew taller and deadlier as it made its way fast towards the alchemist. This is the end, Alyssa thought as the spikes continued to come closer, I did my best, and I have lost. I'm so sorry to let everyone down, including you, Goddess Athena.
Suddenly the rumbling stopped. Alyssa slowly opened her eyes, and then she gasped silently. Vagabond had leapt right in front of her and stopped the spikes from coming any closer. How did it do it, she hadn't the faintest idea.
"So you think that dumb wolf of yours can stop me from killing you, huh? Well, think again," Crystia snarled. She grabbed her staff violently and concentrated hard. Holding her staff upraised, she chanted out loud,
"Spirits of nature,
Heed my call,
With the forces of will,
Thou shall soon fall,
Let Earth and Ice meet,
Prepare their doom,
The rocks that bind,
The frozen that kills,
With this I summon thee,
Awaken,
Corporeal Adam's Ale!
The ground shuddered once more, but this time, no spikes could be seen. Alyssa watched carefully. The wizardress was up to something, she knew, but what?
Suddenly something knocked her back once more and captured Vagabond. Startled, she looked at the angered wolf and gave a surprised cry. Why, it was earth itself. Shaped into an almost body form, the creature was made out of rocks and clay. At that moment, the earthy creature was holding Vagabond tightly with its elongated arms. Now what is that creature going to do with Vagabond, she pondered as she looked desperately for something to help the helpless beast.
But before she could do anything, something else caught her eye. Something shiny was slithering fast towards the howling wolf. She squinted closer to see what it was and then drew back feeling slightly alarmed. She had seen one of those creatures before. It was in one of her textbooks back when she was studying for her novice survival exams. If that creature was what she thinks it is, then the wolf is in danger, not to mention helpless to stop it.
Alyssa looked around desperately. There must be something she could do! Then something stirred in her mind. It was a song Constance had taught her when she was a toddler. "Now, how did that song go again?" she muttered to herself, all the while her eyes kept track of the slithering creature.
When life leads to darkness,
And soul into blackness,
Just lift this tune,
And clear the sadness,
When light is away,
And ice is astray,
Use your spirit,
Conquer your fears,
With what around you,
Treasure them well,
With hope and faith,
Just kill them all…"With hope and faith…with hope and faith…" Alyssa muttered to herself as the song came flooding back. "Use what is around me," she looked around, and finally spied her sack of items flung from her cart nearby. If only I can reach it, she thought desperately. She struggled to move towards the sack but her legs refused to budge an inch. It was almost as though the wizardress had casted a spell on her legs.
"Wait a minute," she exclaimed aloud, "The frozen that kills? That sounds like…ice!" Almost instinctively she summoned up her protective orb once more. The sphere of fire appeared obligingly."Quick, build a firewall in around Vagabond!" she commanded. She was already concentrating on her own spell of fire. The orb flew towards the wolf and made a wide sphere of protection with its fiery flames. Halfway through her concentration, Alyssa was struck by something cold.
Choking and spluttering, she broke her concentration and stared angrily around, wondering what had broke her summons. "Not so fast, little brat," mocked the voice of that annoying wizardress, "You really think I would just let you do as you wish?"
Crystia tapped her staff reprovingly at Alyssa. The alchemist scowled heavily and tried to get up. "Tut, tut, little brat," Crystia trilled, "You won't be able to move now, thanks to my own personal binding spell I had just cast on you." She stopped and smiled dangerously, "Now, watch and learn, brat!"
Helplessly, Alyssa tried futilely to break the spell. She watched as the icy creature neared the fiery wall. Please let the wall break that creature down, she thought desperately. She struggled and struggled but no avail. The binding spell that the wizardress had cast on her was too strong and powerful. Oh goddess, she cried silently, what am I to do?
Calm yourself down, girl! A good warrior never admits defeat unless she is forced to! Right now I want you to try and break that spell…
But it's too strong for me! Alyssa objected in her mind. She dare not speak out loud in case the maniacal wizardress became suspicious of her.
Don't interrupt me and listen carefully. Deep within you lies a massive amount of what we call spirit powers. Find that powers and use them. Close your eyes now and concentrate hard. Don't let what is happening to the world bother you. It is most important that you are to find that spirit powers! Visualize well, and you will see what I mean…
"Goddess, don't go!" she cried out involuntarily. Crystia heard her and turned around, a frown marring her expression. "Goddess, huh?" she scorned, "You must be getting pretty desperate to call upon something like that. Now sit still and let me enjoy this show!"
Alyssa glared at her, then settled down. She remembered Lady Athena's words. Concentrate huh? Fine, she'll do as the goddess's had asked. Closing her eyes, she began to visualize an unknown spirit force radiating deep inside her. She didn't know how it looks like, or how it was supposed to feel. But what she knows is that she needs to find it fast…
"Wh-Where am I?"
Alyssa looked around her in confusion. It was as if she was in a three-dimensional world. The floor was alien to her, as if being made out of nothing but transparent glass. But she could not see anything past it.
"So, you have awakened, have you not?"
Startled, Alyssa looked around. It was a man. Or rather, it looked like a man to her. Dress in black garments, he had what looked like dirtied bandages wrapping all around his body and his face partially. Somehow his odd appearance reminded her of the usual garments of an assassin.
"Who are you," she breathed softly, hardly daring to ask.
"You should know who I am, little mistress, just like I know you," came the reply.
The alchemist's eyes widened. What the heck was this guy crapping about? And why did he call her his little mistress? The assassin look-alike shook his head slightly and said, "Listen to your heart, little mistress. You should know who I am. I am the one that helped you when you needed me the most. I am the one that was with you when you were in troubles."
Alyssa stared deep into the mysterious stranger's eyes. Something about them looked familiar…
"Why, you're Elias!" she exclaimed in surprise. 'Elias' bowed slightly. Then he looked directly at Alyssa and said, "There is not much time now, little mistress. I need you to find me. Somewhere within this area lies a box filled with spirit force. In that spirit force lies a weapon designed specially for its wielder, and that is you. Find that box before it's too late…"
"Hey, what do you me-"
Elias disappeared, leaving the alchemist staring blankly at the empty space in confusion. Box? She looked around her. There was nothing but vast emptiness and more glass. Dammit, she scowled to herself. Now what the heck am I to do?
She got up albeit unsteadily and started to walk towards one direction. It was almost as though she was in a place where there were no walls at all, except for the ceiling and the floor. "Box, what box?" she pondered as she looked around for something she did not even know how it would look like.
"Damn you, Elias! Aren't you supposed to be helping me?" she muttered angrily to herself while her eyes darted here and there, hoping to find something that contrasts from the picture. Elias was her imaginary friend, or at least she had though he was her imaginary friend. When she was young, she used to have the impression that someone was always looking out for her. It wasn't her father, who was busy with his own built up business. It wasn't her mother either, who was a priestess that sacrificed herself during a raging war between elves and humans. It definitely wasn't her sister, for she was too busy bullying her then.
It was Elias. "Who are you?" she had asked. Being young, she felt unafraid of the mysterious stranger. It was almost as though her mind had recognized him even before she did. "I am Elias, little mistress. And I am here to be with you," came the gruff reply.
Alyssa shook her head and sighed. She recalled those hard times when she tried to tell her parents about Elias, but they just wouldn't take it seriously. They had assumed that Elias was just another imaginary friend of hers. Partly, what they had assumed was true. Elias was imaginary. But he was also a part of her. As the oddly garbed man had once explained to her, he was born from her spirit forces that lie inside her. He was there to protect, and to guide her in her path. But Alyssa did not understand anything back then. To her, Elias was there to be her playmate, and that he will always be with her.
But things had changed. The day her parents were killed, and the day her sister had stopped smiling for a long time, was the day she stopped interacting with Elias. She supposed it was because there was too much grief, and too much guilt in her. Guilt that is based on her belief that her parents had died because she believed in Elias too much, even though they had told her not to. The sense of guilt had consumed her badly that she altogether had become a silent and unresponsive child.
Only when she had reached the age of ten did she begin to smile and talk once more. Alyssa racked her brains, trying to figure out what had made her do so once more. Elias! She realized. It was him again that had made her smile. It was his warmth and protectiveness that had made her feel whole again. It was him that had told her to be strong for her sister, Constance. And it was him whom had told her that a smile could be given freely to others, to cheer them up and to give them hope and courage.
"Oh Elias, how I missed you so," she murmured softly, a tear slipping from the corner of her eye, "We lost so much time together. And I did not even bother to acknowledge you one bit, even after all of these years you had been there for me."
Suddenly, a spot of bright light emanated in front of her. The light grew bigger and brighter that Alyssa was forced to shade her eyes. Finally, even through her closed eyelids the light had managed to penetrate into, and Alyssa cried aloud in pain.
Then just as sudden as it had appeared, the light dissipated. Cautiously, Alyssa opened her eyes once more. Then her eyes widened. "Elias!" she cried. The dark, lonesome creature was in front of her, smiling slightly beneath his bandages.
"I'm glad that you have finally realized, little mistress," he bowed slightly and continued, "But there is no time to waste. You must understand, little mistress, that I am here to serve. And you must understand as well, that I am your spirit force. What lies beneath your soul is me. And I am here to protect you from anyone that has enmity towards you."
"Oh Elias, I'm so sorry I had forgotten about you! I'm so sorry that I didn't even bother to acknowledge you," she cried.
Elias looked at his 'little' mistress calmly. "Those are all water under the bridge now, little mistress. Do not worry so much about it. I knew that when the time was right you would remember me once more. And this is the time now," came the soothing reply. Then he straightened and said seriously, "But now, little mistress, I need you to be brave once more. Right now, you are in your own realm in your mind. When you leave this place, I want you to call out my name and find the spirit force within you. Use me as a weapon then, and I will help you vanquish the Earth and Ice Demons Crystia had summoned."
Alyssa nodded slowly. Then she asked, "But what about the box?"
"The box that you are so worried about, little mistress," he said, "is no other than your own memories. I wanted you to find out everything yourself, without my help. Only then you will understand the true power you hold within you. Now, there is no time to waste. Leave this realm and enter reality before it's too late!"
Alyssa woke up with a start. Was it a dream, she wondered, or was it real?
Hurry, little mistress! There is no time to lose!"Aah, so it was true!" she cried softly. Then she closed her eyes once more and tried to feel the spirit force both Goddess Athena and Elias had mentioned. Already she could feel something surging in her veins; something strong.
"Elias, I command you to serve and protect!" she cried out loud, her eyes still remained shut, "I command you to leave the bindings of the other realm and reborn as a protector in this realm!"
"What the-" the wizardress whirled around in surprise when she heard Alyssa crying those words out loud. She was even more astonished to find a thick swirl of cloud fogging up her peripheral view.
"I serve to protect, and I serve to help," a deep voice spoke out from the swirling thickness. As the wizardress watched in amazement, a mysterious man appeared and flicked a glance at her. Before Crystia could even utter a single word, the man, whom was Elias, disappeared. She blinked her eyes. Where did that man go?
"Look behind you, Crystia," said Alyssa, almost wearily. Her energy was slowly seeping away from her even as she spoke. There was a loud clash between metal and something solid. Crystia looked around hurriedly. She bit back an exclamation.
Elias had somehow managed to block the Ice Beast's attack using a sort of power shield. Then, using his right hand, he placed it right in front of the beast's face and uttered a few soft words; his fingers moving rapidly as if writing something from the air. The Ice Beast gave a loud howl and began to struggle with itself. As Elias moved his fingers faster, the beast's face began to contort and struggled even more. Then finally, he raised his right hand upwards and shouted a powerful fire spell. Great white sparks appeared on the beast's body and it began to set it on fire.
"No way," Crystia breathed incredulously, "This cannot be! My Ice Beast is invincible!"
"Well then, Crystia, I suppose like any other frozen piece of lump is vulnerable to heat in the end," said Alyssa, struggling to keep awake. Already her bottom half was falling asleep and her upper half was too weary to even lift a finger.
The wizardress suddenly pointed a finger at her and shrieked, "You! This is all your fault! The Dark Master will kill you for this! I will kill you for this!" She raised both hands and prepared to cast a spell that only top ranked wizards and wizardress could cast: the Lord of Vermillion. It was the most difficult spell for a mage to conquer, and very few could escape the wrath of this spell.
Alyssa merely closed her eyes. Both her mind and body were too exhausted to even neither move nor think. Dimly, she could her the crumbling sounds of the Rock Beast being slashed into pieces; and that the Vagabond was free once more. But she couldn't even lift an eyelid anymore. The energy in her was thoroughly drained when she summoned Elias out.
Before she blacked out, she could her Crystia screams mingled with the howls of fury from Vagabond. Then, at last, she heard no more.